5 ⭐ CW: Death, descriptions of blood, sexual content 

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer was one of those books that someone recommended to me, but I didn't expect to love it much based on the cover, but damn was I wrong! This was sort of like They Both Die at the End meets Never Let Me Go, in space. Yes, folks, Space Gays ™️. 

We follow Spacefarer Ambrose Cusk, from the Fédération (one of two countries left on Earth),  as he wakes up with no memory of the launch to rescue his sister on Titan. He discovers quickly that he is not alone on the ship and that something isn't right. His shipmate is Kodiak Celius is from the rival country, Dimokratia. The first being a liberal and socially progressive society, and the later being the more conservative and close minded country. When they realize that the ship's OS is hiding something from them, they realize they need to work together to survive, and to figure out what is going on. 

So. Much. Tension! I was so stressed reading this book. The suspense was top notch with a dash of space horror and existential dread. We get a great example of the importance of human connection, no matter how different we think we are. The science in this was excellent and fascinating. I don't want to say anything else about the plot, because boy that twist is something. It zagged when I zigged. 

The character development was so fantastic too! Ambrose is our sensitive cinnamon bun, and Kodiak is our rugged manly type that suffers from toxic masculinity but comes around. They are precious and I love them. I want nothing more than wrap Ambrose and Kodiak in a blanket and keep them safe. 

Such a great YA Scifi pick!